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1908 Season Summary - The Reach Official American League Guide - 1908

The New York Team was the signal failure of the year, for no apparent reason but mismanagement The team started with an augmented pitching staff, and reconstructed infield and outfield. infielders Williams and Laporte and outfielder Hofman had been traded for infielder Niles and outfielder Hemphill, and Jake Stahl had also been added to the outfield. Catcher Blair had shown such promise in the preceding fall that Ira Thomas was sold to Detroit. The team started well, made a good spring showing, and in May went into first place and secured a lead that seemed to assure New York a pennant at last. Gradually, however, the ill-luck that has pursued this club since its organization manifested itself. Niles proved unsatisfactory at second base, Stahl failed in left field, and Keeler showed marked and persistent deterioration in all departments. To make matters worse Elberfeld was so badly injured that he was practically shelved for the season, and Ball, the youngster who took his place, played erratic ball. The work of the veteran pitchers also beganto deteriorate so much that only the youngsters, Manning and Lake, could be relied upon for consistent work. Under the conditions the team began to slump in June, made a most disastrous western trip, lost the lead and commenced to slide, which completely demoralized the team. This led to the resignation of Manager Griffith. The appointment of Elberfeld as his successor led to factional troubles, which resulted in first baseman Chase's desertion, Stahl's release, and consequent team shifting. The demoralization was so complete that in one month the team slid from the top of the heap clear to the bottom, where it remained continuously without hope of redemption, for balance if the season, though in the last month of the race it gave occasional temporary displays of its former base ball ability.